Rhode Island to open sports betting at casinos

Rhode Island could soon seek a company to run sports betting at Twin River’s casinos, provided the Supreme Court lifts the federal ban.

The state governor Gina Raimondo proposed a budget for the next year that comprises a state revenue forecast of US$23.5 million from sports betting at Twin River’s casino in Lincoln and a new planned casino in Tiverton. The budget proposal – subject to the Supreme Court annulling of the federal ban on sports betting – also forecasts US$4.1 million revenue from a new type of gaming, including “stadium gaming” at Twin River.

Lawmakers believe that a gambling expansion is essential in order to protect Rhode Island’s third-largest revenue source. The Rhode Island Lottery said that it hopes to obtain an exclusive contract to provide initial sports betting services this year in time to start accepting wagers at Twin River on October 1st.

“If the Supreme Court overturns, we have to have sports gambling to remain competitive,” Mark Furcolo, director of the state Department of Revenue, said. “Massachusetts has big gambling entities to run their casinos. They will be able to offer sports betting very quickly.” The proposal does not set a percentage of gambling revenue that the state would obtain, as it will be defined through the RFP process, Furcolo said.

Despite the fact that the proposal only details sports betting at brick-and-mortar locations, the RFP said that Lottery officials are open to online sports betting as well, and that bidders should show capability to readily adapt to any future additions to authorised sports betting operations in the state including, but not limited to, remote sports betting.